Overview
- Indiana beat Minnesota 96-77 in Indianapolis, a game played Tuesday that featured Caitlin Clark’s 27 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.
- The Lynx ruled rookie Olivia Miles out with a calf injury about 90 minutes before tipoff, a late scratch that changed Minnesota’s lineup and play-calling for the night.
- Indiana built a 57-34 halftime lead and led by as many as 29 points, but Minnesota’s bench outscored the Fever 30-14 in the third quarter to make the second half competitive.
- The win improved Indiana’s seeding outlook, raising their chance to reach the No. 4 spot and host a first-round series to roughly the mid-20s percentage range in some projections.
- Postgame attention shifted to player availability and on-court dynamics, with Clark thanking teammates and fans, debate over an ESPN analyst’s critical broadcast comments, and both teams preparing for Thursday’s rematch in Minneapolis.